KAIRO'S POV...
When I opened my eyes, I immediately knew I wasn't in the clinic anymore. The bed beneath me was cold, the air was heavy, and the sky outside the window burned a deep, eerie red—like the whole world was on fire but strangely silent.
I sat up slowly, blinking at the unfamiliar room. There were tall stone pillars, old lanterns that flickered without any flame, and a faint humming echoing in the air like a choir at church.
Then I noticed him.
A man in a long, black cloak stood a few meters away, his back turned. When he spoke, his voice boomed—not loudly, but in a way that vibrated in my chest.
"Kairo… your fate will be decided in the future. You will gain strength, but also suffer great loss. Prepare yourself."
I stared at him blankly. "…Uh. Okay, priest. Are you here to bless me or something? Because this whole setting is giving 'Sunday sermon' vibes."
The man slowly turned his head toward me. His expression didn't change, but I swear his eyebrow twitched.
"I am no priest," he said with obvious irritation. "I am your Twin Soul—the soul born alongside the Ember Seal that resides within you."
"Twin soul?" I tilted my head. "Wait, if you're my twin, why don't we look alike? I mean, at least copy my amazing face."
For a moment, I thought he'd throw a fireball at me. His jaw clenched, and a dark aura briefly pulsed around him before he forced himself to continue.
"The twin soul is not a human twin. We do not share flesh or appearance. We are the soul counterparts of the power you bear. Every wielder of a seal has a twin soul tied to their magic. I am the twin of your Ember Seal."
"Ohhh…" I nodded slowly, pretending to understand. "So you're like… the magical system of my power."
He exhaled through his nose sharply. "You're insufferable."
Then, in a tone that made it clear this was a formal introduction, he declared:
"My name is Xei'thraem of the Veiled Flame, Twin Soul of the Ember Seal."
"…Xei…Xai…Xee…what now?" I squinted. "Yeah, that's not happening. I'll just call you… Flamy Cloak Guy."
His entire posture stiffened. "You dare—"
"Flamy Cloak Guy it is!" I grinned. "Easy to remember, rolls off the tongue, and fits the dramatic outfit."
He covered his face with his hand like he regretted being tied to me.
"This bond will test my patience."
I chuckled, swinging my legs off the bed. "Well, welcome to my life, Flamy. If we're stuck together, better get used to my amazing sense of humor."
He sighed deeply.
"Your power will awaken in time. But remember, every choice you make from this moment forward will shape the fate of your world… and mine."
And just like that, the room faded, the red sky dissolved, and I woke up back in my bed—heart pounding but somehow amused.
"…Flamy Cloak Guy," I muttered to myself with a small smirk. "Guess I've got a roommate in my soul now."
The moment I opened my eyes again, I was back in my dorm room. No red sky, no creepy cloaked guy with a dramatic voice—just the familiar curtains and the faint smell of old bread I'd forgotten to clean up.
I sat up, rubbing my face. That… wasn't a dream. It felt too real. That guy—Flamy Cloak Guy—said he was my Twin Soul. Whatever that meant, I needed answers.
And there was only one person who might know something: Eryndor.
I threw on my uniform—half-buttoned, as always—and wandered around the academy grounds until I spotted him sitting on a stone bench near the garden, buried in another one of his ancient spellbooks.
"Eryndoooor!" I yelled, waving my arms dramatically.
He looked up, calm and collected, though I saw the faintest twitch of annoyance in his eyebrow.
"Kairo," he greeted. "You're awake."
I dropped down beside him like I owned the bench. "Yup. Sooo… quick question. What's this 'twin soul of the Ember Seal' thing?"
The book froze midair. Literally. A thin layer of frost crept over its cover.
I squinted. "...You're doing that ice thing again."
He slowly closed the book, turning to me with sharp eyes. "Why are you asking that?"
I shrugged. "No big deal. Just met some dramatic guy in a red-sky place who called himself my twin soul. You know. Totally normal."
For a moment, even Eryndor looked genuinely surprised. "You… met yours already?"
I tilted my head. "Wait, you have one too?"
He nodded. "Of course. Every wielder of a seal has a twin soul bound to it. Mine is… difficult to explain."
"Difficult how? Creepy? Fiery? Overly dramatic?" I leaned closer with mock seriousness.
He exhaled softly. "She's known as the Ice Queen of the Silent North. Her true name is…" He paused, as if bracing himself to speak an ancient incantation. "Elyzharvethynne Vaelcaryss D'rellanthia."
I stared at him. "…Bless you."
He blinked. "That was her name."
"That was a name?!" I sputtered. "Elyzha—Vael—D'rell—what now? That's not a name, that's a tongue twister with extra frost!"
Eryndor almost—almost—smiled. "It's an ancient language. Her name roughly translates to 'Queen of the Eternal Frost Veil.'"
"Yeah, well, I'm calling her… uh… Elzy," I said confidently.
He sighed. "Of course you are."
I crossed my arms. "Hey, don't judge. If your twin soul is someone named Elyzharvethynne Whatever-the-rest-is, you'd make a nickname too."
His expression sobered. "It seems your twin soul has revealed itself earlier than expected. That's unusual."
"Unusual like 'yay, good' or 'oh no, bad'?" I asked.
"Both," he said calmly. "It means your seal is awakening faster. But it also means your connection to it will grow complicated."
I leaned back, staring at the sky. "Great. Just what I needed. A mysterious soul buddy and some epic destiny I didn't sign up for."
Eryndor stood, closing his book with a soft thud. "Be careful, Kairo."
I grinned. "Careful's my middle name."
He gave me a blank look. "…No, it's not."
"Okay, fine. But still."
Inside, though, my mind was racing. If Eryndor's twin soul was a legendary Ice Queen with a name like Elyzharvethynne Vaelcaryss D'rellanthia, what kind of power was my own fiery cloak guy hiding?
We started walking along the academy's stone pathway, the air colder than usual. Maybe it was Eryndor's presence, or maybe it was just me overthinking things again.
Something kept nagging at the back of my head, though.
I turned to him and asked, "Hey, wait. If you've never actually met that Elyzha…whatever Ice Queen lady, then how do you even know it's her? You sound so sure."
Eryndor stopped mid-step. His expression didn't change—calm, composed, like always—but his eyes had that faint, icy sharpness.
"Normally," he began, folding his arms behind his back like some kind of scholar giving a lecture, "if your power is developing at a normal pace, you don't see your twin soul. You only hear their voice. It's a sign that your seal is slowly synchronizing with your essence."
I tilted my head. "So, like… a magical voicemail?"
He ignored that. "However," he continued, "if you see their face, it means your power is awakening faster than expected. Much faster. It's rare… and dangerous."
I frowned. "Dangerous how? That guy didn't do anything. He just showed up, talked like he was reading a prophecy, and told me my fate was going to be full of loss."
Eryndor's eyes narrowed slightly. "The fact that he revealed himself to you fully means your connection to the Ember Seal has already accelerated beyond normal limits. The usual process takes years. For you… it's happening now."
"...Huh." I scratched my head. "So basically, I'm either special or doomed."
"Both," he said without hesitation.
I gawked at him. "You could've sugarcoated that a little, you know."
Eryndor resumed walking. "I don't sugarcoat facts, Kairo. If your twin soul has manifested in full form, then your training and your battles will only become more difficult from here. Be prepared."
I sighed, dragging my feet after him. "Great. So not only am I dealing with talking crabs, strict Serena, and sarcastic twins… now I've got a mysterious soul guy watching me from some red-sky dimension."
Eryndor didn't reply, but I swore I saw the corner of his mouth twitch slightly. Not sure if that was a smirk or just him judging me quietly. Probably both.
———
Finally—break time.
No teachers breathing down my neck, no Serena nagging, no twins calling me "dramatic." Just me, the sun, and the sweet, sweet freedom of not doing anything productive.
I strolled through the academy's courtyard, hands behind my head, whistling like I had no care in the world. That's when I heard it—voices. Not the fun kind. The nasty kind.
"Hand it over, you little rat!"
"You think no one saw you, huh?"
I peeked around the corner and saw a group of older students cornering a boy. He looked… different. His glasses were slightly cracked, his uniform too big for his frame. He had this nerdy look—but his face didn't match his age. Younger, maybe? He clutched his bag to his chest, trembling.
I felt my grin disappear.
"Hey!" I shouted, marching forward. "What's going on here? Is this some kind of messed up club activity?"
One of the guys turned, sizing me up. "This doesn't concern you, Kairo."
"Wrong," I said, crossing my arms. "It does now."
Another guy scoffed. "That kid's a thief. He stole from us. We're just taking back what's ours."
I raised a brow. "Really? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you took everything from him."
The boy's wide eyes flicked up to me—hopeful.
I clicked my tongue. "You know, lying is bad. Picking on the weak? Even worse."
Their leader stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "You want to make this your problem?"
"Already did."
And just like that, things escalated. Fists swung, mana flared, and before I knew it, I was in the middle of a brawl. Inside the academy. Great decision, Kairo. Really smart.
One guy lunged at me—I dodged, grabbed his arm, and flipped him over (thank you, physical training class). Another tried hitting me with a basic spell, but my electricity scattered it mid-air with a satisfying crackle.
The "nerd" just stood there, watching, wide-eyed. Probably wondering if he was dreaming.
Somewhere above, on the second-floor balcony, I caught a glimpse of Eryndor leaning against the railing, arms crossed. He wasn't interfering like he usually does.
Normally, he'd swoop in, lecture everyone about rules, and drag me by the collar to the disciplinary office. But this time… he just watched.
Was he… testing me?
Fine. I'll give him a show.
Another guy rushed me, and I used a quick burst of mana on my feet to dash behind him, lightly shocking his back. He dropped with a yelp. One by one, they backed off, muttering curses, but I was already grinning—half from adrenaline, half because I actually handled it.
Of course, my victory was short-lived.
"KAIRROOO!!!"
A teacher's voice boomed across the courtyard.
Ah. Trouble.
I stood frozen, then slowly raised my hands. "...In my defense, they started it."
Eryndor's faint smirk from the balcony told me everything—I passed his "little observation." But I had a feeling he'd be the one lecturing me after, too. Typical.
I sat in a stiff chair inside the principal's office, staring at the fancy wall clock ticking way too loudly. To my left were the group of bullies, arms crossed like they were in some courtroom drama. Behind them stood their parents—rich, loud, and clearly enjoying the sound of their own voices.
To my right sat the nerdy boy from earlier… with his mom, who kept patting his shoulder like he just survived a war.
And me?
Well. Just me.
No parents. No guardian. Just Kairo—the lone wolf of the principal's office.
"Alright," the principal said, his deep voice cutting through the chatter. "Let's start. Who's responsible for the commotion during break time?"
Before anyone could answer, the bullies' parents jumped in like they rehearsed it.
"My son would never start a fight!"
"This is clearly that boy's fault—he's known for trouble!"
"Yes, Principal, this isn't the first time his name came up."
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Of course they were painting me as the villain. Classic.
The nerd's mom looked uneasy, but stayed quiet.
The principal then turned to the boy. "Tell us the truth. Who started it?"
And then—he did it.
The little nerd pointed at me.
My jaw dropped. "...Wait. What?"
The bullies burst out laughing like hyenas. "Hah! Even the 'victim' agrees with us!"
The parents smirked too. "See? Case closed."
For a second, I just sat there. Stunned. I actually helped this kid. I fought for him. And this was how he paid me back?
The room filled with smugness. But then something in me flipped. If they were going to laugh, fine. I'd give them something to laugh at.
I leaned back in my chair, smirked, and said loudly, "Wow. Betrayed by the person I saved. Classic hero story. Can I at least get a betrayal soundtrack next time?"
The parents stopped laughing.
I turned my gaze on the boy. "You know… you're kinda ungrateful. Next time those guys bother you, don't expect me to help. I'll be somewhere eating bread in peace."
His mom gasped. The boy looked down, cheeks burning. Good.
Then I shifted my eyes to the laughing group. "And as for you guys… thanks for reminding me why I prefer eating alone. This little meeting? Best free entertainment I've had all week."
Awkward silence. The laughter died real quick.
Even the principal raised a brow, then sighed, stood up… and just walked out of his own office whistling.
I blinked. "...Is that a yes or a no?"
Nobody answered. But honestly? I didn't care. I stood up, dusted my uniform, and walked out too. If they wanted to play courtroom, they should've brought better actors.
I was just about to leave the hallway outside the principal's office when I heard the sharp, grating voice of one of the bullies' mothers.
"Honestly," she said loud enough for everyone in the hallway to hear, "it's no wonder that boy behaves this way. He doesn't even have parents. Children like that grow up wild, like strays. No manners, no upbringing. Pitiful, really."
For a moment, everything around me went quiet.
Her words hit me like a slap I didn't see coming.
She didn't know me. She didn't know what I went through. But she spoke like my life was some gossip topic over afternoon tea.
I could've gotten angry.
I could've shouted.
Instead, I turned around slowly, a calm smile on my face—the dangerous kind.
"Oh, you're talking about me," I said casually, hands in my pockets. "I thought I heard a goose screaming, but nope—just you."
Her face twisted. "Excuse me?"
"No, no, go on," I continued. "It's not every day someone talks about my 'tragic' life like it's some royal scandal. Makes me feel… famous."
The other parents shifted uncomfortably.
I took a step closer, lowering my voice just enough. "But since you love talking about family backgrounds, let's talk about yours, shall we? You must be proud of raising such wonderful sons. I mean, bullies who attack weaker students? Truly… parenting goals."
The mother's face went pale.
I pointed at another parent. "And you—aren't you the one who kept nodding like a broken bobblehead during the meeting? Tell me, does your neck hurt or are you just trained to agree with anyone richer than you?"
The hallway filled with gasps.
"And you," I said to the loudest father, "congratulations. You've successfully raised someone who runs away when he's losing a fight. Real champion right there. A shining legacy."
Their faces turned red, one by one, like tomatoes under the sun.
I shrugged. "You talk about my parents like you knew them. But here's the thing—I'm still standing without them. Meanwhile, your kids have everything and still turned out worse than me. So maybe… check your own house before talking about mine."
Silence.
They didn't say a word after that.
I didn't need to stay either. I walked away, calm on the outside, but deep inside… yeah, it stung. Bad.
But if there's one thing I learned—if they try to cut you, cut deeper. With words sharper than their knives.
I was just about to step away from the chaos when one of the guys—yeah, the loudest one—pointed at something sticking out of my pocket.
"Hey, isn't that my dollar?" he sneered, stepping closer like some bigshot detective.
I raised a brow. "Your dollar?"
"Yeah," he said, puffing his chest. "You picked it up earlier. Give it back."
I looked at the crumpled bill peeking from my pocket.
My money.
The nerve.
"You're kidding, right?" I said, laughing through my nose. "You guys jump people and now you're asking me for my own money?"
They stepped closer, trying to intimidate me. "Give. It. Back."
I felt my patience snap. Slowly, I reached into my pocket, pulled the dollar out… and then threw it straight at his face.
The slap of paper against skin was glorious.
"There!" I shouted. "Take it! Feed your whole family with it since you're so desperate. Must be hard at home, huh? No food on the table? Go on, take it. Maybe that single dollar can keep you alive for a week."
The hallway went dead silent.
His face turned red, whether from anger or embarrassment—I didn't care.
I crossed my arms, tilting my head. "If you're gonna act poor, at least do it with dignity. Don't steal from me and pretend like you're the victim. You look pathetic."
The others held him back before he could lunge at me, but I didn't flinch.
I smirked, turned my back, and walked away like I didn't just roast him in front of his parents and friends.
Inside though, my hands were shaking a bit—not from fear, but from holding back just how angry I really was. People like them… they never change. So I learned to hit first—with words.
I shoved my hands into my pockets as I walked down the corridor, whistling like nothing happened. Principal's office? Check. Drama? Check. Humiliation? Double check.
I just wanted to get out of that place.
"W–Wait!"
I stopped and glanced back. The nerd—the one who threw me under the bus earlier—was panting as he ran after me. His glasses were slightly crooked, and his bag looked heavier than his spine could handle.
"What do you want?" I said flatly.
"I… I need to explain," he said between breaths. "My name is Elias."
I raised a brow. "Great. Elias. Now what?"
He fiddled with his hands nervously. "I didn't mean to blame you earlier. I just… I was being threatened. If I didn't point at you, they said they'd hurt me again and… and take the little money I had left."
"So?" I tilted my head. "And you decided the best move was to throw me under the carriage? Genius."
He flinched. "I… I know. But I didn't have a choice."
"There's always a choice," I shot back. My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I didn't take it back. "You chose the easy way out. You chose yourself."
He bit his lip and finally blurted out, "I just needed the money! That's why I let them take it. My mom's sick and—"
I held up a hand. "Stop. If you're that desperate for money, why didn't you get a job? Work. Hustle. Do something." I leaned closer, my eyes locking onto his. "Money doesn't just fall from the sky or magically appear. You think we all get what we want by crying about it?"
Elias lowered his head, shame clouding his face.
I sighed, turning away. "I get it. Life sucks. But betraying someone who actually stood up for you? That's worse than being broke."
I started walking again, tossing him a lazy wave over my shoulder. "Next time, Elias, pick a better excuse. 'Cause that one?" I smirked faintly. "Pretty useless."
The wind on the rooftop was colder than usual, brushing against my cheeks as the sun dipped lazily on the horizon. I leaned on the rusted railing, staring blankly at the cityscape.
That's when my eyes caught it—a half-used cigarette lying on the bench.
I picked it up between my fingers, squinting like some shady detective in a play. "Heh… I've always seen people do this in those cool scenes," I muttered.
I reached into my pocket, pulled out a lighter I "borrowed" a few weeks ago, and clicked it. A tiny flame flickered to life. Carefully, I stuck the cigarette between my lips and lit the end.
I took a dramatic inhale.
…And immediately regretted it.
"Cough—cough—cough!!" I bent over, hacking like I'd just swallowed smoke and fire at the same time. My eyes watered as I gasped for air. "This—this tastes like burnt socks!"
"Pfft—"
I froze at the familiar laugh. Turning my head, I saw Eryndor casually leaning on the doorway, his usual composed expression cracking into a genuine chuckle.
"Oh, shut up," I wheezed, glaring.
He walked over, still laughing under his breath, and without asking, plucked the cigarette from my lips. Then, with smooth ease, he placed it between his own and inhaled—like he'd done this a thousand times. He blew the smoke right into my face.
"Are you—cough—serious?!" I swatted the air dramatically.
Eryndor smirked, exhaling like some smug prince from a painting.
I coughed again, then punched his shoulder lightly. "Show-off."
He just laughed harder, the sound echoing on the rooftop. For a moment, with the wind, the sunset, and the shared ridiculousness of it all… it actually felt peaceful.
The sky above was dyed a deep crimson, like the heavens were quietly burning. I leaned against the railing, the faint smell of smoke lingering between us. Eryndor sat on the ledge a few feet away, cigarette in hand, looking too calm for someone breaking school rules.
I tilted my head back, eyes tracing the clouds. "Hey…" I muttered.
He glanced at me.
"What if…" I hesitated, fingers tightening on the railing. "What if I met my father one day… and my mother didn't die? What would've happened to me then?"
The question slipped out softer than I intended. The wind caught my voice and carried it away before I could take it back.
Eryndor didn't laugh, didn't tease. Instead, a small smile appeared on his lips—not his usual smug grin, but something gentler.
"You'd still be Kairo," he said finally, exhaling smoke into the fading sky. "Stubborn. Loud. Annoying sometimes. But… the world would be a little less interesting without you around."
I snorted. "You sound like you're writing some cheesy novel."
He chuckled under his breath, then looked at me with that same warm expression. "Maybe I just think you're someone worth keeping around."
I blinked, caught off guard. The way he said it—it wasn't exactly romantic, but it wasn't just friendly either. It was… something in between.
My heartbeat jumped for a second, and then I shook my head quickly. No way.
A man liking a man? That's… messed up. That doesn't happen.
I pushed the thought aside and looked away, pretending to be absorbed by the clouds again. "You're weird, you know that?"
"Yeah," he answered easily, flicking the ash off his cigarette. "Takes one to know one."
The rooftop fell silent again, but this time, it wasn't uncomfortable. Just quiet… with things neither of us dared to say aloud.
The sun had almost disappeared, leaving only streaks of orange and red in the sky. We were still on the rooftop, sitting side by side. The cigarette between Eryndor's fingers was almost finished, its ember glowing faintly.
For a while, neither of us spoke. The quiet was weirdly… peaceful.
Eryndor suddenly broke it. "Hey, Kairo."
"Yeah?"
He didn't look at me right away. His gaze was fixed on the horizon, jaw tensing like he was wrestling with something inside.
"You know…" he started, his voice lower than usual, "I don't just see you as… a friend."
I turned my head, eyebrows furrowing. "Huh?"
The moment hung in the air like a held breath.
But then—he quickly coughed and waved his hand. "I mean, you're like… my idiot brother or something. Someone I have to keep an eye on." He laughed awkwardly, flicking the last of the ash away.
I blinked, confused. "…That was random."
"Yeah, yeah. Forget it," he said, brushing it off like it was nothing.
I leaned back against the wall. "Man, I thought you were about to say something dramatic. Don't scare me like that."
He just gave me that same crooked smile, but there was something in his eyes that I couldn't quite read.
I shrugged it off. Probably another one of his weird jokes.
The calm rooftop moment didn't last long.
A sudden, sharp WEEEEEHHHH sliced through the air. The academy's alarm. It blared so loud it made my chest vibrate.
"What the—" I shot up, eyes scanning the grounds below. Students were running in all directions like ants kicked out of their hill. The guards were already out, shouting orders, and soldiers in black armor were forming lines.
Eryndor crushed the cigarette under his shoe. "Something's happening."
"No kidding," I muttered.
Without a second thought, he jumped off the rooftop.
"Wait, what—HEY!"
I followed right after, wind rushing past my ears as we dropped. We landed smoothly, knees bent, like we'd practiced it a hundred times. Okay, I'll admit it—it looked awesome.
"Oi!" I ran to the nearest guard. "What's going on?!"
The guard's expression was tight, serious. "The portals are spawning too quickly. Faster than usual."
Eryndor frowned. "Portals?"
"Yeah," the guard barked. "When that happens, the sky will darken and more monsters will appear. We need to evacuate all students now!"
I looked up at the sky. The sunset had disappeared behind a growing curtain of swirling dark clouds. A strange wind whipped through the academy grounds, cold and sharp.
A chill crawled down my spine.
This wasn't just another training scenario. Something big was coming.
I grabbed the guard's arm before he could run off. "Wait—what kind of monsters are we talking about here?"
His face twisted, like even saying it out loud made it worse. "They're not from our world. They're from other dimensions. No one knows exactly how many kinds exist… or what they look like until they show up."
Other dimensions? Great. Just what I needed—mystery monsters.
Eryndor stepped closer. "But… that shouldn't be possible. The portals were sealed centuries ago."
The guard nodded sharply. "Exactly. For hundreds of years, the barriers have held. This—" he gestured to the darkening sky "—this is the first time something like this has happened. Someone either broke the seals… or deliberately opened them."
My stomach sank. If the seals were gone, that meant whoever did it had power. The kind that made crab monsters look like pet goldfish.
Eryndor and I exchanged a look. He didn't need to say anything—his eyes told me everything.
This wasn't just some accident.
Something dangerous had begun.
The first wave came fast—too fast. Shadows streaked across the academy grounds as monstrous figures dropped from the rifts above like living nightmares. The air crackled with panic, spells, and the metallic scent of blood.
Eryndor shot ahead like a blur, summoning shards of ice around his hands. I spotted two familiar figures in the chaos—Lio and Leo, back-to-back, fending off a cluster of crawling beasts. Without thinking, I sprinted toward them.
"Hey, twins!" I shouted. "Missed me?"
Leo rolled his eyes even as he blasted a creature with his wind magic. "Of course you'd show up in the middle of a crisis!"
Lio grinned. "Good timing though."
We fell into rhythm instantly. They distracted, I zapped. A giant, mantis-looking monster lunged, and I raised my palm. Electricity surged, tearing through its body in a flash of white-blue light. It crumpled like burnt paper.
More came pouring out of the portals—ugly things with too many limbs and too little patience. I felt the static build around me. My heartbeat synced with the rising current.
"Alright…" I muttered to myself, planting my feet. "Let's give them a proper welcome."
I extended my arms toward the swirling rifts and unleashed a massive electrical surge. The lightning arced across the ground, jumped through the air, and zapped straight into the portals. The monsters caught in between convulsed, shrieking before collapsing in smoking heaps.
"WOAH!" Lio yelled over the crackle. "He's electrifying the portals themselves!"
Leo grinned. "Then let's follow his lead!"
Soon, the other students caught on—fireballs, ice lances, and wind blades followed my lightning into the rifts. We weren't just defending anymore. We were pushing back.
For the first time, fighting side by side like this… it actually felt like we were winning.
The battlefield was absolute chaos—until Lauro and Eryndor stepped in.
Lauro's movements were sharp and commanding, his spear slicing through the monsters with clean, effortless strikes. But the real showstopper, as always, was Eryndor.
He lifted his hand, calm as ever, and the temperature around us plummeted. A wave of frost spread out from beneath his boots, racing across the ground and freezing everything in its path—monsters, terrain, even the air itself shimmered with icy light.
And then, with a sharp flick of his wrist, ice crystals shot toward the swirling portals. One by one, they froze solid, cracks spreading like spiderwebs across the frozen vortexes before—
CRASH!
—each portal shattered into glittering shards of ice, vanishing like broken glass under sunlight.
The entire academy yard fell silent for a heartbeat… and then:
"KYAAA!!"
"Eryndor-sama!!"
"He's so cool!!"
Every girl within a hundred meters squealed like they were at some magical boy band concert. Some of the guys even looked starstruck.
I just rolled my eyes so hard I nearly saw my brain.
Of course. Mister "Nerdy Prince" saves the day and suddenly he's everyone's hero.
Meanwhile, I was still covered in monster gunk and smelling like burnt crab.
The battlefield was finally quiet. Shattered ice glittered across the ground like scattered diamonds, and the chilly air from Eryndor's magic still lingered.
I turned my head just in time to catch Eryndor looking straight at me.
No words. Just that calm, unreadable expression of his.
And then—
He smiled.
For a second, I froze. That guy rarely, ever smiles. It wasn't wide, just a small curve of his lips, but it was enough to make the entire crowd lose their minds.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAA!!"
"HE SMILED!! HE SMILED!!"
"Was that for me?!"
"No, I swear he looked this way!!"
The girls were screaming like they'd witnessed some divine miracle.
I wanted to laugh. If only they knew…
Because that smile?
That wasn't for them.
Eryndor's eyes never left mine. I could feel it. The way his gaze held me, steady and warm in the middle of this frozen chaos.
I scratched the back of my neck, suddenly feeling weird. "Tch… what's he staring at like that for," I muttered under my breath, looking away before anyone noticed my ears warming up.
The entire academy was gathered inside the grand hall. Rows and rows of students filled the seats, murmuring nervously while professors and guards stood along the walls, alert. The atmosphere was tense—way too serious for my liking.
I slouched on my seat, arms crossed, while Eryndor sat beside me, straight-backed as always. Of course he looked calm. Meanwhile, my stomach was still growling from the fight earlier.
The principal stood on the stage, hands behind his back, his robe swaying slightly as he looked down at us. "Students," he began, his voice echoing through the hall. "What happened today… is unprecedented."
The crowd went silent. You could practically hear a pin drop.
"For centuries, the dimensional portals have remained sealed. But earlier, multiple breaches occurred within the academy's perimeter." His tone grew heavier. "This was no natural phenomenon. Someone… or something… has tampered with the ancient seals."
Whispers broke out around the room.
"Is it an attack?"
"Who would even do that?"
"Are we safe here?"
I glanced around, bored but also… not. My heart was still beating a little too fast from the fight. This wasn't just some random monster appearance. Something was stirring.
The principal raised his hand, silencing everyone. "Effective immediately, classes will continue under heightened security. Patrols will double. Clubs involving exploration and combat will receive new missions related to these events."
I groaned quietly. Of course that meant us. Lauro was already looking serious a few rows ahead, which only confirmed my suspicion.
Eryndor leaned slightly toward me. "Don't slack off, Kairo," he whispered.
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah… Mr. Perfect."
But deep inside, I knew this wasn't going to be just another day at the academy. Things were changing—fast.
T.B.C.